A huge arms cache discovered in Northern Ireland yesterday after a van loaded with cigarettes was hijacked could be linked to the Loyalist Volunteer Force, it emerged today.
Ten guns and up to 1,500 rounds of ammunition was found in a house in East Belfast during searches carried out by the RUC last night.
One man is being questioned by detectives about the arms consignment - one of the biggest of its kind in recent times.
Detective Inspector George Mellor said: "This is the biggest seizure of Loyalist weaponry in East Belfast in several years."
It is believed the guns are linked to the dissident LVF grouping. Disaffected members of another Loyalist splinter group, the Red Hand Commando, may also be connected to the weapons.
The haul included eight handguns, an assault rifle, a sawn-off shotgun, ammunition, two magazines, two items of body armour, glovesand balaclavas.
Police found the massive arsenal during inquiries into a hijacking incident at Castlereagh Road in the east of the city yesterday.
Two men ordered the driver of a red Vauxhall Astra van delivering cigarettes Two men ordered the driver of a red Vauxhall Astra van delivering cigarettes to travel to Templemore Close shortly after mid- day.
He was then led away by a third man while the van was unloaded and an attempt made to set it alight. Police then mounted follow-up operations on houses in the immediate area.
PA